Claire
I block out the sound of my mom’s voice as she showers me with quotes from Deepak Chopra’s greatest hits. “The use of love is to heal; the secret of attraction is to love yourself; the horizontal hokey pokey is the only dance that counts.” Wait, I think that last one was from one of the songs she wrote for Tooty.
While my mom blathers on, I think about how I haven’t heard back from Geoffrey regarding the picture I sent him. If he’s on Paris time, he’s currently living nine hours into the future. He might not have seen the text yet. I try to make sense out of the time difference in my head, but after yesterday, it just makes my temples throb.
I’m not sure why I feel the need to toy with him like this. Probably because he brazenly flirted with me and asked me out, all the while knowing he was planning on leaving Oregon. After Jack and his cheating ways, I’m done letting a man play me.
Though today’s my day off and I promised my mom I’d hike Silver Falls with her, I’m going to drop by work to make sure they don’t need help since they’re short-handed. I stop off at the Quick Stop first to grab some aspirin. I didn’t overly imbibe last night, but my head is still throbbing like the cast of Riverdance is breaking in some new shoes on it.
Cheryl calls out as soon as I walk into the market. I wave to her while announcing, “I need something for a headache.”
“Aisle seven. How did your big event go last night?”
“It was a huge success,” I tell her. “Why don’t you come to our next mixer?” Ruby mentioned that Cheryl’s husband recently took up with another woman and got her pregnant.
“I’ll be sure to if Geoffrey is going to be there,” she gushes.
I knew she was harboring a crush, and I can’t help the feeling of jealousy that creeps under my skin like a cat burglar looking for jewels. Which is probably why I feel the need to say, “Geoffrey is leaving Oregon in a couple of months.”
“What? I didn’t know that. Where’s he going?” She looks as disappointed as I’m pretending not to be.
“Home to his family. But in other news, I got myself a date with three different firemen last night.”
“Interesting,” Cheryl says. “To tell you the truth though, I don’t think I’d mind spending a little time with your chef before he goes home.”
“What? Why? Nothing can come from it.” I scramble to think of how I can turn her off this idea—stat.
“A lot of fun can happen, even if it’s not long-lasting.” The look on my face has her quickly adding, “I’ve been with my husband since high school. Now that he’s taken up with an assortment of other gals, I figure I might as well see what I’ve been missing.”
“Oh, okay.” I hope I don’t sound judgmental because I’m not judging. I’m just jealous at the thought of Cheryl enjoying time with Geoffrey while I’m not. That’s like a deathbed-with-comet-about-to-hit-the-earth confession. It’s not to be repeated.
I grab some aspirin. While checking out, I once again promote the lodge’s new event. “I bet if you came to our next mixer, you could meet a great guy who wasn’t moving away.”
“No, thank you. I’m fresh off a breakup. The last thing I need is long-term. Although, I might take you up on coming out and looking into some short-term loving. Starting with your chef,” she says with a wink.
The whole way into work I think about what Cheryl said about enjoying time with Geoffrey while he’s still here and not worrying about the future. I start to wonder if I could see him in the same way I’m looking at my dates with three firefighters—an enjoyable encounter and nothing else.
Then I think of Cheryl’s husband bailing on their marriage and wonder if I should begrudge her the kind of fun she’s after. I decide that I don’t. I begrudge Geoffrey the kind of fun she’s after.
I check my messages as soon as I get back to work and find that Geoffrey still hasn’t responded to the photo of me and the Spartan Fire Department.
My finger hovers over the keyboard on my phone. Risking looking pathetic, I finally text him.
Me: How’s your family?
Geoffrey: …
Geoffrey: …
Geoffrey: …
Me: Well?
Geoffrey: Good.
Me: It took you that long to write one word? -insert eye rolling emoji
Geoffrey: How are you?
Me: Fine.
Geoffrey: Who are you again?
Me: Who am I? What kind of question is that? You know perfectly well who I am.
Geoffrey: Refresh my memory.
Me: Are you high? This is Claire Choate. The woman you work with?
Geoffrey: Hello, Claire.
Me: Have you been in an accident? Did you fall off a building onto your head or something?
Geoffrey: I’m well, thank you for asking. Are we dating by any chance?
What is going on?
Me: Noooooooooooo.
Geoffrey: Why is that? I saw your picture on my phone and you’re a very beautiful woman.
Me: Okay, I’m done texting you and I’m going to call the Malquarian police to find you and make sure you’re not sitting in the bottom of a well, on your head—where you must have landed when you fell in.
Geoffrey: I’m fine, really. I’m just wondering if you think we have a special relationship.
Me: Well … obviously we’re friendly. And you did ask me out, but then you told me you were leaving so we decided to be friends. Any of this ringing a bell?”
Geoffrey: …
Geoffrey: …
Geoffrey: …
Me: GEOFFREY!!! ARE YOU THERE? Please note that I’m now YELLING at you!!!
Geoffrey: Sorry about that. I’m back. If I weren’t leaving would you date me?”
Is he considering not moving? My heart starts to pound so loudly I hear it in my ears.
Me: I think you know the answer to that.
Geoffrey: I think you would.
Me: I think you’re right.
I’m not sure why I answer so truthfully, but there’s something about this bizarre conversation that’s really throwing me off.
Geoffrey: …
Geoffrey: …
Geoffrey: Oh, my God, Claire! I’m so sorry, but my sister got a hold of my phone and has been pretending to be me! I’m about to wring her neck and then I’ll read what she said to you and be back. Hold on a second …
Kill me now. Geoffrey didn’t want to know if I’d date him if he stayed in Oregon, his sister did, and now he’s about to find out that I’m totally interested, which is true, but OMG! He can’t know that.
I turn off my phone and throw it into my purse. I am not going to check it for the rest of my life. Or at least for the rest of the morning.
Chapter Thirty-Four
The Queen
“Chéri says you have a girlfriend,” Charlotte tells Geoffrey.
“I do not have a girlfriend.”
“Why does your sister think you do?”
“Because …” Geoffrey pauses to run his hands through his hair before sitting down on the loveseat next to his mother. “Chéri picked up my phone and started reading my messages. She’s decided that a woman I work with should be my girlfriend.”
“Why is that?”
“Probably because she’s beautiful,” Geoffrey says.
“But you’re telling me nothing is going on?” the queen repeats.
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“Good. We have beautiful women right here in Malquar. It would be easier for everyone if you came home without any extra baggage.”
“Mom,” Geoffrey asks quietly, “why is it that Chéri can have a partner that isn’t from Malquar, yet you expect the rest of us to follow the rules?”
“Your sister has never followed the rules,” Charlotte replies before picking up her teacup from the side table next to her. “Your father and I have relaxed the rules with her because not doing so would have resulted in
more chaos than we already have.”
“So, she’s being rewarded for standing up for herself, while the rest of us are being punished for doing what is expected of us?” Geoffrey watches his mother closely.
Reaching over to take her son’s hand, she answers, “I can see why it would look that way.”
“And?” he pushes.
“And nothing. I know the rules don’t seem fair, but there’s a level of tradition that’s expected of the royal family.”
“Every generation has the opportunity to advance the rules. Harry, Aunt Lavinia’s son twice removed on dad’s side, married a divorcée from America. That should speak volumes about how our cousins are progressing with the times.”
Charlotte releases a long sigh before saying. “If you haven’t already started dating this girl, why is this an issue for you?”
Geoffrey
I’m starting to think Chéri did me a favor going through my phone. Without her interference, I probably wouldn’t have bothered asking my mother why her children aren’t all expected to live by the same rules.
While she didn’t give me a satisfactory answer, I know I gave her something to think about.
Meanwhile, Aubrey and I are sitting in my kitchen creating a menu we can auction off for the orphan fund. “Do you have anyone special in your life?” I ask her while we try to decide if crab cakes or scallops would be the best starter.
“No. It’s not because I’m not interested, but I swear the single men I meet just don’t do it for me.”
“How’s that?” I figure if the rest of our personal lives are up for discussion, I might as well learn more about Aubrey’s.
“I suspect a lot of them want to spend time with me because they’re trying to get on the king’s good side. You know, get him to throw some royal business their way.”
I nod my head. I’m sure that’s part of it but I don’t say so. “You’re beautiful and talented and quite a catch in your own right, Bree.”
“That’s what I keep telling myself,” she laughs. “What about you? Chéri says there’s someone you’re interested in but won’t go after because you’re coming home.”
There’s no point in denying it. “It would make matters complicated, so it’s best not to start anything.”
“Do you want to come home?” my sister asks.
“If you asked me last year I probably would have said no, but I’m really starting to look forward to it.” I bump into her shoulder and add, “Plus, you’ve done such a nice job with my house, how could I not be excited?”
“Tell me about the woman,” Aubrey says.
“I’d prefer we talk about your love life.”
“So, back to our menu.” My sister starts to doodle on her notes.
“How about if we host the dinner parties right here at my house, or your house. I bet we could raise a lot more money that way,” I suggest.
“We could use family-crested china.” Bree rubs her hands together. “I’ll bounce the idea off Mom and see what she says.”
“What do you think Chéri and Brigitte are going to do? Do you think they’ll get married?” I ask.
“I don’t know. They’re meeting with Dad right now and you know that’s going to be contentious at best.”
“I think they should just elope abroad somewhere. That way the press office can proclaim it a fait accompli. Then it will be no big thing to announce a baby after that.”
“I’m going to be an aunt.” Aubrey sighs before explaining, “Being an aunt is better than being a mom because you can give the baby back.”
“I think it’s expected that you’ll have a nanny to help you out.”
“Do you think Chéri is going to have a nanny?”
“I think Chéri is the only one who can do whatever she wants,” I reply.
“You sound a little bitter,” my sister says.
“I’m not bitter so much as wondering why we all don’t follow her lead and stand up for ourselves.”
“You want to go back to Oregon and ask your girl out, don’t you?”
“I do. The only thing that’s stopping me is that I don’t want to break her heart. It wouldn’t be fair to her to start something up, only to leave.”
“Why don’t you let her decide that?” Aubrey asks. “Then if things go well, you can try long-distance dating.”
“Would you want to long distance date someone who lived on the other side of the world from you?” I ask her.
“I’m just trying to find a way for you to have what you want, Geoffrey.”
“I appreciate it, Bree,” I tell her. “I’m going back to Oregon early. Now that the cat is out of the bag for Chéri, I don’t think she needs me here anymore.”
“The only reason I’m not fighting you on that is because you’re coming home so soon. Now that we’ve hit on this fundraiser idea, I can’t wait to flesh it out.”
After Aubrey leaves for a meeting, I go upstairs to pack my bag and change my flight. Then I go to the palace to say goodbye to my parents.
I’m suddenly in a huge hurry to get back to Oregon and see Claire again. While I’m hoping the feelings I’m developing for her are a by-product of conflicting emotions about leaving my old life for my new one, I’m afraid that might be wishful thinking.
Staring at her photo with those three firemen all the way to the airport, I realize the truth. If this was just some misplaced angst over leaving Oregon, I wouldn’t be experiencing this degree of jealousy.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Sharon
“Hello!” Sharon announces appreciatively as she opens the door to her daughter’s brunch date.
“Hi, there.” Ryan smiles happily as he walks into the entryway. “I’m here for Claire.”
“Don’t I know it,” Sharon says with a wink and a nudge. “The nice thing about going out for brunch is that if the date’s going well, it doesn’t have to end. Am I right?”
“You’d certainly be right if I didn’t have to work tonight,” he says.
“Shoot,” Sharon smacks her hands together to emphasize her disappointment. “Oh, well, you better get going then, so you have a nice long time together.” She turns toward the staircase and yells, “Claire! Get down here!!”
Claire runs down the stairs and catches Ryan’s eye before looking at her mom. “I hope my mother didn’t say anything too inappropriate.”
“Please,” Sharon interrupts. “I just suggested that brunch dates were nice because they could go long if things were going well.”
“But I have to work tonight,” Ryan interjects before offering, “You look very pretty today, Claire.”
Looking down at her buttercup yellow shirtdress, she replies, “Thank you. You look pretty spiffy yourself.”
“I aim to please.” Ryan does a small turn showing off his khakis and light blue sweater.
“You kids have fun, now.” Sharon pushes them out the front door before telling Ryan, “If things are going well, you should consider calling in sick. Claire has two more firemen dates after yours and you want to make sure yours is memorable.”
Claire
The echo of the slamming door rings in my ears as I say, “I’m sorry about my mom. She likes to push the boundaries of acceptable behavior.”
“I like her,” he decides while leading me to the passenger side of his pickup truck.
Once we’re both inside, I ask, “Where are we going for brunch?”
“I made reservations at the lodge because it’s the nicest place in town. But if you’d prefer to not go there, I totally understand. We could hit up Denny’s off the freeway or something.”
“The lodge sounds lovely.”
When he fires up the engine, music blares out of the radio. He quickly turns it off and gives me a smile that inspires me to want to get to know him a little better on the way to brunch. I learn that Ryan grew up in Spartan and that he’s never lived anywhere else. “Some folks might think that’s ki
nd of dull,” he says, “but I feel like this is my home, so why look for the same feeling somewhere else?”
“I grew up in LA,” I tell him. “I’m happy I got away from the hustle and bustle.”
He nods his head. “I bet.” Then he says, “I hear Romaine Choate is your brother. How cool is that?”
My thoughts flash back to the blaring radio. My hopes drop. “Not nearly as cool you might think. You aren’t by any chance an aspiring musician, are you?” I might as well ask the dreaded question right away. That way if he is, I can pretend to be sick and have him take me home before this date starts.
“My singing gets the neighbor dogs howling every time,” he laughs. “No, ma’am, I have zero musical aspirations.” The tension flows right out of me and I enjoy the rest of the ride to the lodge.
Once we’re seated in the restaurant, I take a good long look at Ryan and realize what a happy-go-lucky guy he seems to be. A peaceful energy radiates off of him. I ask, “So, you don’t have anyone special in your life, huh?” Obviously he doesn’t, or we wouldn’t be on a date, but it feels like a good place to start.
“I’ve been seeing a girl on and off for the last year,” he explains. “We’ve been more off than on lately.”
“Oh.” Is it just me who thinks that people who are otherwise involved should not be going to dating events?
Ryan catches my tone. “I’m pretty sure we’re going to be breaking up for good real soon.”
Just when I’m about to fake some catastrophic illness, I see Geoffrey walk out of the kitchen looking exhausted. What is he doing here? He’s supposed to be in Malquar for a few more days.
He looks around the dining room and catches my eye before practically sprinting toward me. “Claire,” he says once he reaches our table.
“Geoffrey, what are you doing here?”
“I’m here to talk to you.” He glares at Ryan. “Who’s this?”
“This is my date, Ryan.” I’m using the term “date” here incredibly loosely.
It's My Party: A Royal Romantic Comedy (Seven Brides for Seven Mothers Book 3) Page 17